Annual impact report 24/25
Learning outside of the classroom
Our enrichment programme
This year we have launched our exciting holiday enrichment programme whereby children in our care can access a range of holiday activities, free of charge in the realms of drama, writing, music, sport and science.
This year has been full to the brim with exciting activities and so far we have engaged nearly 40 children with the programme and with the help and support of the Children and Young People's participation team, we hope to grow this even further.
Our projects are delivered by commissioned partners and supported by staff at our Virtual School. We collaboratively risk assess and plan the projects together leading to true collaboration and supportive outcomes for the children.
Some of these projects have been funded by the Virtual School directly whereas some have been externally funded through funders like NECA (North East Combined Authority).
Drama and the arts
This year we partnered with Side by Side Arts in Bensham to provide a Summer Music Academy to ten children in our care.
10 children in our care attended 6 weekly workshops exploring different musical instruments including guitar, piano, drums and voice. The final workshop was the delivery of their own song which they sang and played themselves utilising the skills they have developed from the project!
They absolutely loved there time with everyone and hope that they can do this again - carer feedback
It was so much fun...loved playing different instruments. It was great fun and the socialising was great - student feedback
G.O.A.T Summer with New Writing North
4 of our children in care joined 8 young people from the HAF programme to explore a writing and drama project about the greatest summer of all time. This was held in the beautiful Baltic on our Gateshead Quays. The students worked collaboratively with New Writing North artists and local musical Kemma Kay to script their own drama, rehearse it and perform to their peers. It was an incredible three days where lots of new friendships were formed and collaboration was very fruitful.
Paint and plant day
Ten children in our care worked with artists to learn about the environment through the art of ink stamping and painting. They created a wealth of beautiful material, thought about how they could be more ecoaware and even generated their own e-zine to present their work.
Sing our Story....
We were fortunate enough to be able to offer 3 of our children in care the opportunity to complete life story work with an associate artist from Blue Cabin. The children worked with a local singer/songwriter to reflect on their story and turn this into a moving song which the artist composed and performed. All the children received a copy of their song and their social workers also received this so it can be held on the child's file. The children and carers were so proud to participate in the project and it was an absolute joy to be part of.
STEM workshops
This summer we have partnered with the North East Raising Aspirations Partnership to offer two exciting workshops on coding and Lego to Year 5 and 6 students to develop their skills in science, engineering and maths (STEM). The children really enjoyed the practical workshops and we are keen to work with these partners again to extend the offer next year.